| First Author | Bao F | Year | 2010 |
| Journal | Brain Res Bull | Volume | 83 |
| Issue | 6 | Pages | 298-303 |
| PubMed ID | 20851747 | Mgi Jnum | J:323128 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:7261424 | Doi | 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2010.08.015 |
| Citation | Bao F, et al. (2010) Hypoalgesia in mice lacking aquaporin-4 water channels. Brain Res Bull 83(6):298-303 |
| abstractText | Previous studies have demonstrated the involvement of astrocytes in the modulation of pain. The water channel aquaporin-4, which is expressed in astrocytes but not neurons, has also been demonstrated to function in sensory processing, including hearing, vision, and olfaction. In the present study, we investigated a possible role of aquaporin-4 in the processing of nociception by measuring behavioral responses to noxious stimulation in aquaporin-4 knockout mice. Pain thresholds were increased in knockout mice, when compared to wild-type mice, with thermal and chemical stimulation but not mechanical stimulation. Aquaporin-4 knockout mice presented normal locomotor activity and basal skin temperature. Likewise, the electrophysiological recordings showed a significant decrease in the number of dorsal horn neurons sensitive to noxious thermal stimuli in aquaporin-4 knockout mice. Moreover, latencies to thermal stimuli were significantly prolonged in a subset of dorsal horn wide-dynamic-range neurons. Taken together, these results suggest that aquaporin-4 plays a role in the processing of nociception. |
